University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

Entering his 22nd year of coaching, Barela currently serves on the staff of University of the Incarnate Word, with prior stops at Northeastern State, Southwest Baptist, Texas State University, University of North Texas, Sam Houston State University, and Morningside College.
 
Barela returned to the offensive side of the ball in 2017 to again coach the tight-ends in addition to adding the title of Run Game Coordinator.
 
2016 marked a position change for Barela as he took over the nickelback position on the Cardinal’s nationally-ranked defense. The nickelback unit combined to produce 79 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack.
 
Coaching the tight-ends in his first year at UIW in 2015, the Cardinals finished 6-5 in just their second year as a NCAA FCS and Southland Conference member. This marked UIW’s first winning season as a Division 1 member. Barela helped to develop 1^st Team All-Conference honoree in TE Cole Wick (Wick would eventually sign with the NFL Detroit Lions). In 2015, Wick caught 30 passes for 364 yds and 2 touchdowns. Overall, the tight-ends helped the offense produce 1,425 rushing yards and 2,357 passing yards for the year.
 
From 2012-13, he served as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator at NCAA D-II Northeastern State (OK). In his final season at NSU, Barela was named a finalist for the 2013 AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
In 2013, he returned two starters to the offensive line, and despite injuries to key personnel; the offense was able to average 157.5 rushing yards per game with 17 rushing TD’s. Barela tutored three MIAA all-conference offensive linemen and a 2013 Capital One Division II Academic All-American (Ross Dvorak).
 
2012 was Northeastern State’s first in the MIAA, and Barela helped mold an offensive line that featured five new starters. He helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher (NSU’s first since 2003), two MIAA all-conference offensive linemen, and an All-American (Michael Bowie – a 7^th round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks). NSU’s offense averaged 175.7 yds rushing and 198.4 yds passing. The offensive line allowed 11 sacks in 338 pass attempts for the entire year. RB Joel Rockmore ranked second in the MIAA and 23rd in NCAA Division II as he gained 1,024 yards. During Barels’s tenure, NSU rushed for 3,490 yds and scored 34 TDs on the ground.
 
In 2011, his lone season at Southwest Baptist, Barela helped the Bearcats to their third consecutive winning season. The offensive line helped SBU’s spread offense average 154.8 rushing yards per game with 20 rushing TD’s. Overall, the offense averaged 376.7 total yards and 26 points per game.
 
From 2007-10, Barela served as the tight ends coach / Director of Football Operations at Texas State University. During his tenure at Texas State, he was part of a staff that helped establish numerous school records, including a conference championship (2008). The Bobcats also finished with back-to-back winning seasons in 2008-09 (the first time since 1990-91).
Highlights include:

• 2009 - offense ranked #7 nationally in yards passing per game (289 yds) and 12th in scoring offense (32 points per game). Texas State’s rushing attack gained over 1,400 yards on 348 carries and 23 touchdowns.
• 2008 - offense finished #7 nationally in scoring (36 points per game), and #8 in total offense (453.2 yards per game). Texas State’s offense averaged 184.1 rushing /269.2 passing per game.  Tight End John Gilley earned All-Southland Conference honors.
• 2007 – Texas State’s rushing attack finished with 2,172 yards and 19 TDs. For the first time in school history, the offense produced a 1,000 yd rusher, a 1,000 yd receiver, and a 2,000 yd passer in the same year.

 
From 2002-06, Barela served as the Director of Football Operations at North Texas. While a member of Darrell Dickey’s Mean Green staff, Barela was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the football program. UNT went on to win three straight Sun Belt Conference Championships during Barela’s five seasons.
 
In 2000 and '01, Barela coached the tight ends for Coach Ron Randleman at Sam Houston State. Barela coached First-Team All-America tight end Keith Heinrich during his two seasons at Sam Houston State. Heinrich would go on to be the sixth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft. During his two seasons with Sam Houston State, the Bearkats had a combined 17-7 record. Sam Houston State was 10-3 in 2001 and captured a share of the Southland Conference championship.
 
Barela’s coaching experience also includes time at NCAA D-II Morningside College (1999) where he was the offensive line coach and coordinated the strength and conditioning program. He helped produce two North Central all-conference offensive linemen.
 
He was a graduate assistant coach at North Texas from 1996-98, working with the offensive line and tight ends. He was a two-year letterman at North Texas, playing linebacker and special teams for the 1994 and '95 UNT squads.

Barela is married to the former Lauren Miller and are the proud parents of son’s Reece and Hudson.